Tuesday, 29 August 2017

When so many of us are living our lives through Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, its easy to compare how we look to how others appear. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and regardless of what is pretty to you, there'll always be so many beautiful people online that meet or exceed that.

With filters, photoshopping apps, angles and lighting, even the everyday girl on the street can look like a completely different person online without the help of an expert tog to edit the photo. The same can be said for lifestyle; social media is a very selected edit of the highlights of someones life and no one really knows what is truly going on behind the lens. The individual could be going through absolute hell and no one would be any the wiser.

I see so many women supporting other women and telling them how gorgeous they look or how what they're doing looks so cool but I also see so many hateful comments too.

The vast majority of the time, these seem to stem from jealousy and that jealousy usually comes from comparison.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

If you've ever had an attack of the green eyed monster, I'd suggest trying to focus on you and your own life. Making yourself happy for you is so important; don't do it for the approval of others.

If you feel great in what you're wearing, who you're surrounding yourself with and what you're doing then you'll be far happier than you'll ever be comparing yourself to others.

Even when times get tough, theres always happiness to be found in the little things, everyday.

Happy girls are the prettiest.

When you're happy, you're at your most beautiful, you don't care what others think of you and you have a beaming smile that will beat any Snapchat filter.

Today, I thought I'd share with you 10 of the simple, everyday things that I find bring me happiness.

1. Fresh bedding- there's nothing better than climbing into a freshly made bed after a long day at work.

2. Waking up with the sunshine- it never fails to perk me up in the mornings.

3. Compliments- paying someone a random compliment makes me feel so happy, plus it can make someone else's day too! Its far more important to be nice in life than to point out what you see someones fault to be.

4. Finding money- I love it when I go to use a clutch bag and I find a stray fiver in the zipped compartment, left over from a previous night out.

5. Spooning- snuggling up in front of a good film. I'm the little spoon.

6. Coming home- after a long day, returning home and feeling that sense of instant relaxation is so comforting.

Worn over white jeans or alone as a dress if you size up like I did, the bright coral shade is fun, flirty and perfect for the summer months and holidays.

Bardot styles have been my absolute favourite to wear all year long; I love the exposed shoulder look, there's something subtly sexy about it!

8. Dance like no ones watching- putting on a track that I love and dancing around my room like no ones watching certainly puts a spring in my step. Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody is my classic jam right no!

9. Clean & tidy environment- keeping everything in my life as clean and tidy as I can really helps me to maintain being happy because it keeps my stress and anxiety levels low.

If my car, home or even my handbag is full of rubbish or unorganised, it really irritates me!

10. Girl time- surrounding myself with positive people who lift me up, gives me something to look forward to and puts a smile on my face. Spending your free time than laughing with your girls is one sure way to make yourself happy.

There's always something that can make you feel happiness each day and when you're happy you have no time for comparison!

Friday, 25 August 2017

Hands up if you would refuse the chance to get away for a day of pampering at a luxurious spa. Anyone? Nah, I didn't think so.

There's nothing I love more than pulling on my favourite Yours Clothing plus size swimwear and heading out around the pool to chill out before being taken to a treatment room for a scrub and massage. Even booking in at my local beauty salon is a fabulous treat that I love to indulge in.

However sometimes life gets in the way and we haven't always got time to spare in our busy and stressful lives or the money, as lets face it, while pampering is important, water, gas and electric bills are mores so. Even if you do have the cash to book in at a spa, time and schedules can often conflict. There's so many times I've got stuck in traffic when I've been late getting out of a work meeting which, in turn, makes me too
late to make my beauty appointment.

Decadent skin treatments available at
most spas can run anywhere from £20 to £150 and beyond. Shelling out that much
money several times a month can be more stressful than the other things in life
you may want -- at least temporarily -- to get away from.

So, if you ever feel the urge to splurge on spa
treatments but want to be sensible at the same time, the best way to get your
fix is to bring the spa experience to your home.

At-home pamper nights are far cheaper than going to a spa and they don't require as much planning which means that you can enjoy them more regularly. If you're really on a budget, you can even make your own spa products using items you will probably already have around your home.

Below, I've shared some of my favourite homemade spa treatments that make some pretty decent
DIY spa substitutes at a small fraction of the cost. Check them out; I'm sure the ingredients you’ll need are most likely
sitting in your kitchen already. And the best thing about them is: they are
all-natural and effective!

At-home Spa
Treatments for the Hair

Massage and Hot Oil Treatment

Ingredient: The best oil to use is either virgin olive oil or
virgin coconut oil.

Instructions: Gently massage oil onto your scalp and hair for 15 minutes. Then
wrap your head in a warm cloth or towel for at least 15 minutes. Wash your hair
with your favourite shampoo and be amazed at how beautiful your hair has become.

Benefits: This is no doubt the easiest and most effective spa treatment that
you can do in the comfort of your own home. The warmth will help the scalp and
hair absorb the goodness of the vitamin-rich oil to keep it healthy, soft and
shiny.

Instructions:Combine all ingredients and
using your hands or a pastry brush, apply to dry hair starting at the roots
working your way to the tips. Massage onto hair.Put hair in a bun and cover for 20
minutes.Rinse and shampoo.

Benefits: This hair spa treatment is a very easy way to add volume and shine
to your hair and improve the health of your scalp. It moisturizes hair by
pulling humidity from the air. It also acts a natural de-tangler and supports
hair growth.

Instructions: Mash banana then add heavy cream and flour.Add water a little at a time until you get a
nice consistency.Apply the mixture to
your face and neck and leave on for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse off and pat dry.

Benefits: Stress can make your skin look red and blotchy. Combat ruddiness
with mashed banana, which contains vitamins A and E, and is great for toning
down redness and treating flakiness. The elastin found in heavy cream leaves
your skin feeling soft and supple.

Instructions: Mix coffee, salt, and essential oils in a glass or ceramic bowl.
Slowly add almond oil, stirring continuously, until mixture reaches the
consistency of moist sand. Sit on the edge of your bath, and wet the area of
your body that you want to scrub. Put a bit of scrub on your palm, and gently
rub onto your skin. Rinse well. Beware that your bath or shower floor may be
slippery afterwards because of the oil! Enjoy your silky smooth skin!

Benefits: Coffee acts as an exfoliant and being a vasoconstrictor, it also
temporarily reduces varicose veins and rosacea. Cinnamon has antibacterial and
anti-fungal properties which help fight acne and pimples. The salt relaxes your
muscles and the sweet almond oil moisturizes your skin.

Instructions: Put all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Slather
liberally all over hands and cuticles. Then slip hands into a pair of yellow
rubber gloves—yes, the kind you use to scrub the tub with. Sit down and relax
with your lotion covered, gloved hands underneath a heating pad so that the heat
will help the homemade salve penetrate your skin more.

Benefits: You’ll have the softest and smoothest hands ever!

Quick and Easy Nail Treatment

Ingredients: 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon honey and ¼ teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions: Mix all ingredients together then massage to nail beds, cuticles
and fingertips and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Wednesday, 23 August 2017

Looking for a laugh this week? Then you must get yourself along to The Customs House, South Shields, to see crime comedy, End of the Pier.

The play proved to be a hit with audiences last year when it toured smaller venues across the North East. Revived by Ion Productions artistic director, Gareth Hunter, the play has been reworked and promises even more laughs than before.

Written and directed by award winning playwright, Neil Armstrong, End of the Pier tells the love-hate story of Edith and Lionel, who perform as music hall double act, 'The Lovebirds'.

The story unfolds in a tatty, end of the pier dressing room in an Edwardian theatre. Expertly brought to life with a fabulous set design and lighting that reflects the era and mood perfectly.

Over the course of their 25 year marriage, Lionel Bosh, played by Armstrong himself, and Edith, played by Zoe Lambert, have grown to hate each other. Now that their love has dwindled, the only passion between them is their desire to kill the other.

Despite their best efforts to plan the others demise, an unexpected guest, played by panto favourite Bob Stott, throws a hairy spanner in the works. Together with the persistent stage doorman Tam, they throw the couples plans into total chaos. What ensues is story that'll have you chuckling in your seat all evening, filled with unforeseen plot twists that'll keep you hooked throughout.

The chemistry between Edith and Lionel was really believable; their interaction was so quick and faultless, you could just imagine them as a real married couple... in fact, I'm sure everyone knows a true pairing just like them! They had me and my friend laughing from start to finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed End Of The Pier and I'm sure you all will too. With a superb comedic script, fantastic casting and a fascinating set design, you'll be entertained all evening.

End of the Pier runs every evening until Saturday 26th August with a Thursday and Saturday Matinee too. Grab your tickets from the box office in person or by calling 0191 454 1234 or head to The Customs House website.

Monday, 14 August 2017

I was browsing the site last week and couldn't believe how many bargains are to be had. Sure I'd seen the deals in store but the sale online is even better because you have access to far more stock and more sizes. There's even an extra 20% off some items for a limited time.

With the weather being really hit and miss at the moment, I've been starting to look for items that I could wear come rain or shine. The Limited Collection Grey Sweat Top is perfect whatever the weather because it strikes the balance between light weight and warm.

With the jersey fabric, round neckline and long sleeves, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is a regular jumper but this beauty is all business in the front and party in the back with a cut out detail.

I love the attention that Limited Collection have paid to the design here; the cut out sits higher than where a bra band would lie which might seem like an obvious design feature but its unbelievable the amount of brands that forget this when cutting holes into clothes!

The jumper doesn't come up really short either which, again, is something that I tend to find with a lot of brands. I'm wearing it really comfortably here with my Yours Clothing Jeggings and it doesn't ride up or sit at what I feel would be an unflattering length on my shape.

Incidentally, if you're looking for some new jeans then I'd highly recommend these. I have them in so many different colours from Yours and they're ridiculously comfortable to wear. They sit high on the waist, give you a great shape and since they're jeggings, they don't add any of the extra bulk that a zipper and a button on regular jeans can. Jeggings are a great option if you're shaped like I am; I always struggle to find jeans to fit my larger tummy that aren't too baggy on the legs. These ones are perfect whether you're dressing them up for an evening out or down for the daytime with a jumper like this one.

I'm loving dressed down yet girlie styles right now and with a jumper like this, some good fitting jeggings and some cute trainers or flats, you can't go far wrong. Yours Clothing have some gorgeous embroidered trainers in right now that I'll definitely be ordering soon. Check them out here.

When I saw this jumper in store, I knew I wanted to get it when I got back from my holiday and I'm pleased I waited now because its in the sale and currently has an extra 20% off, bringing it down to £16.19 from £26.99! That and the fact that it looks great with a tan!

The light grey colour is perfect against any skin tone or hair colour and the slogan across the front really pops out in black and hot pink. 'Love Is The Answer' is a message that really resonates with me as I believe that it really is the answer for most things in life. Live your life with love and you'll make the right decisions and not go far wrong.

I usually find that I need to size up one size on the Limited Collection branded items but I found the sizing of this piece to be spot on so I'd recommend sticking with your regular size.

If you love this jumper as much as I do then be quick because I don't know how long the extra 20% offer will be on for!